Dicastery for Communication encourages Catholic journalists and editors

The Prefect of the Vatican Dicastery for Communication, Paolo Ruffini, sends a message of encouragement to participants at a seminar in the Ivory Coast for Catholic journalists.

Aug 23, 2019

ABIDJAN: The weeklong training course, from August 8 to 16, is taking place in Abidjan, on the theme "Electoral processes in Africa: the role and responsibility of the media in the preservation of social peace".

The Prefect of the Vatican Dicastery for Communication, Paolo Ruffini, has sent a message of support and encouragement to participants in which he praises the "dynamism" of Catholic communicators in promoting a "journalism of peace”.

In his letter, the Prefect recalls Pope Francis’ Message for the 52nd World Day of Social Communications last year, on the theme “The truth will set you free: fake news and journalism for peace”.

In that message, the Pope speaks of “a journalism created by people for people, one that is at the service of all, especially those who have no voice. A journalism less concentrated on breaking news than on exploring the underlying causes of conflicts, in order to promote deeper understanding and contribute to their resolution by setting in place virtuous processes. A journalism committed to pointing out alternatives to the escalation of shouting matches and verbal violence”.

The training session in Abidjan is being organized by the African Catholic Union of the Press (UCAP), and the Association of Catholic Journalists and Communicators in the Ivory Coast, and is chaired by Bishop Raymond Ahoua, Head of Episcopal Commission for Social Communications in the country.--Vatican News


KUALA LUMPUR:
Eighteen Catholic Editors and Journalists from 12 countries converged at CCM, Kuala Lumpur 14 -16 to deliberate on the theme Peace Journalism in a Viral Culture.

The Round Table Conference raised a few common concerns: Declining Readership in the context of viral social media, hostile political authority, financial crunch, lack of required skills and training for those involved in Catholic Journalism.

The participants unanimously reiterated that the print media of the Church must stay on even in the midst of adverse scenario in the Asian region.

Among the recommendations of the conference were:

-- to train existing and budding journalists,
-- to network among the different publications in the Asian countries,
-- to be promoters of unity and peace,
-- to abide by the Teachings of the Church, to announce the Good News,
-- to work with the local Ordinary in networking and crisis management,
-- to formulate a Code of Ethics for Catholic Journalists of Asia,
-- to have a Catholic Press Association-ASIA
-- to give prominence on the Pope and his activities.

The Conference was convened by the SIGNIS Asia Journalism Desk under the aegis of SIGNIS World. The speakers of the Roundtable Conference were: Helen Osman, President-SIGNIS World and Chair of the SIGNIS Journalism Desk; Dr Peter Monthienvichienchai, the Executive Director of UCANews, Fr Paul Samasumo, the Vice President of the SIGNIS World and Head-English and Swahili Service Africa, Vatican Radio and Fr Pakkam Michael Harris, Consultant at the Vatican Dicastery of Communication.

Source: SIGNIS

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